I was at a friend's house last week and he was showing me his Krags (1898 rifle and 1899 carbine). He said the carbine and the rifle cutoffs worked in opposite directions. His rifle cutoff was "on" when the lever was down but his carbine cutoff was "on" when the lever was up!
That seems awful confusing. Why didn't they manufacture them the same.

olBEAR

olBear - A model 1898 rifle and model 1899 carbine have the same cut-off lever. If the lever is 'up', the polished side of the lever is visible and cartridges will be fed by the bolt.

Model 1892 Krags and model 1896 Krags had a cut-off switch that worked opposite - 'Up' was blocked and 'Down' would allow cartridges to feed. In 1898, near the end of model 1896 Krag production, the function of the  cut-off switch was reversed.

When earlier Krag rifle and carbine models were reconditioned, they likely received a new redesigned cut-off lever, so they would function like a model 1898/1899.

Maybe your friend's rifle is actually a model 1896 with the early style cut-off.

Model 1898/1899 Krags use a cut-off with a short shaft. Their actions will not accept the long shaft of the 1892 and early model 1896 cut-offs.

Thanks for the info.
However, this is strange. His rifle functions like you described for the 1898 and later.
His 1899 carbine (clearly marked) functions like the earlier model. But if an earlier cutoff is too long to fit then is it possible to shorten an earlier cutoff and fit it to a 1898 and later Krag?
I guess it really doesn't make a big deal for civilian shooting as long as the weapon functions safely on the range.

olBEAR

olBear - I believe you have it figured out.

Your friend's model 1899 carbine has an 1896 cut-off that had its shaft shortened to function on the 1899 Reciever.

A sportsman may have wanted it that way. The work  was not done at Springfield Armory.

Great.....now I gotta tell him. They're his pride and joy.
Then again, maybe not....after all it doesn't hurt anything.
Thanks Chuck.

olBEAR

FWIW - A correct model 1898 cut-off is very common and costs $20.00 or less.

Ok, so maybe I will tell him. :)

olBEAR

So I convinced my friend to buy a new cutoff for his 1899 carbine.

When we changed it we could see that the old one was an earlier cutoff that had been cut down. Now it is correct ... thanks for the advice.

olBEAR

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